Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists

What they do?

Court recorders record verbatim proceedings of courts using stenomasks, electronic stenography machines or computerized recording equipment. They transcribe recorded proceedings according to established formats.

What education do I need?

1. To be a secretary (except legal and medical), you must have a high school diploma, and complete a one- to two-year college or other secretarial program, or have previous experience.

2. To be a legal secretary, you usually need a one- to two-year college program or other specialized course for secretaries or legal secretaries.

3. To be a medical secretary, you usually need a one- to two-year college program or other specialized course for secretaries or medical secretaries.

4. To be a court recorder or medical transcriptionist, you need a high school diploma. Court recorders must complete college or a program in court reporting. You may need a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) or Chartered Shorthand Reporter (CSR) certificate.

5. Almost 1 in 2 have a trade/vocational certificate, and 2 in 5 have a community college diploma.

High School Subject that will help:

1. English
2. Computer-related courses
3. Keyboarding

What can you expect to make:

The average hourly wages for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is $15.73/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the business, finance and administration sector and are below average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.

Average Wage

Expected Wage by Age

Unemployment:

3% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.

Unemployment

Trends in Unemployment

Current Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is considered Below Average because:

1. Employment grew at a below-average rate.

2. Hourly wages ($15.73) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average.

3. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Future Job Prospects:

Your job outlook will continue to be Below Average because:

1. The employment growth rate will likely be below average because of an increased productivity from organizational restructuring and the adoption of new technologies.

2. Although the retirement rate will likely be above average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.

3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Highest Concetration:

The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of secretaries, recorders and transcriptionists are found in Quebec and New Brunswick while the lowest concentrations are in Newfoundland and Manitoba.

Unionization Rate:

The unionization rate (34%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations.

Useful Experience:

1. Computer literacy

2. Project organization

3. Record-keeping

Part Time Workers

Part time workers:

21% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 251 700 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 11% since 1997.

Age Demographics

Age Demographics:

The earlier-than-average retirement age (60) combined with an expected older-than-average age (44) of worker will likely result in an above-average retirement rate to 2009.

Self Employed

Self Employed:

Roughly 5% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are self-employed. This is considered Average for the industry as a whole.

Men vs Women

Men vs Women:

96% of the individuals employed as Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are women. Compared to other industries, this is Above average.